Battle light



April 21, 1942. w. F. SHEFFIELD BATTLE LIGHT Filed larch 11, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l Swan M W/LL/HM f. SHEFFIELD.

April 21, 1942. w. F. SHEFFIELD 2,280,543

BATTLE LIGHT Filed March 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I E i I-IIIIHIIIIIIIII WILL lflM F: SHE/ F/ELD Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE BATTLE LIGHT William F. Sheffield, Sparrows Point,Md. Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,811

1 Claim.

This invention refers to belligerent weapons and more particularly to alamp for incapacitating hostile persons as far as their eyesight isconcerned. It has among its objects to provide a lamp capable ofdistributing light rays from a source within it, with sufficientintensity and effect to seriously affect the sight of normal personscoming within its range. Another object is to provide the lamp withfacilities for utilizing various materials that are more eiiective thanconventional lighting elements. A further object is to have the lampcapabl of performing several functions advantageous to its operationsand enabling it to make it more adaptable to the objects for which it isintended. A still further object is to have the lamp suitable for use inwar vessels or with ordinance and operable manually by individuals inwhose possession it may be. A still further object is to have the lampsuitable for use as a signal light or fog light. A still further objectis to have the lamp suitable for use with a special port-hole locatedbelow the water line of war vessels for use in locating mines.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully setforth.

The lamp is in general construction similar in many respects to that ofa conventional searchlight. Its purpose is not for illuminating uses butfor bringing about the transmission of rays through a relatively longdistance at an intensity sufllcient to paralyze the nerves of the eyesand induce blindness, at least temporarily to those Figure 5 is asectional view of the casing on line 5-5 of Figure 2 to illustrate thefeeding arrangements for the electrodes;

within the range of its light. This is in general produced by usingmetallic rods, such as are used for welding, to produce an arc of theintensity and eiIect considered suitable. The composition of the rods isa matter of empirical solution, but for general purposes, it has beenfound that the various commercial welding rods provide the necessarylight and rays to create the source of intensity required. The light andrays are reflected in a conventional manner with mirrors and reflectors,but the feeding of the electrodes is done in an especial manner topermit welding rod in the form of coils of wire to be used in acontinuous manner. In addition, arrangements are provided for dampeningthe molten material and disposing it as it drops from the rods, so itwill not injure the lamp or its parts. To produce a greater effect theelectrodes are provided in plural pairs arranged in line with each otherto increase the intensity of the light and rays in a coordinate-manner.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the welding rod connector for joiningthe ends of rods for con tinuous operation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

In the construction shown, I represents a pro jector lamp casing havingreflectors or mirrors 2 in the back portion, and its front portion 3converged to make the stream of rays intense for the entire area as theyleave the lamp. An adjustable barrel I is mounted on the front andlocked in position by bolts 30 and hinged at 8 thereto, to absorb therays and force them through same with such intensity as its lens 5 mayproduce. The adjustment is made through the use of a rack 6 pinion H6,and wheel I as indicated. The casing is preferably of cylindrical formand mounted on a base 25 and is provided with a vent 9 in the upperportion of its wall and an air inlet III in the floor portion. HandlesII are mounted on the back for the manipulation of the lamp, and thebifurcated trunnion l2 supporting the latter enables it to be tilted orturned at any angle horizontal or vertical angle.

This trunnion is provided with a collar 25 which contacts the base 25 sothe projector may be rotated in a circular direction. The upper end ofthe trunnion engages in a channel l3 mounted directly on the lamp bodyor casing and may be slid along same to change the tilting action orbalance of the lamp, to suit the operator and conditions under which itis used. The trunnion and casing are held in locked position by nut 21.The wall of the casing is provided with bushings I through which weldingrod II in the form of wire is propelled to suit the rate at which thesame is burned during its arcing. The rods are conventional welding rod,and preferably of the so-called steel type having a steel content with10% carbon admixture, which melts at about 7500' F. and produces Iimposed rollers l6 9. very bright light with a color and high frequencyspluttering, that is hard on the eyesight of a person, having to look atit directly. These rods are fed from magazines 28 through superofasbestos or other fireproof material, and are joined together byconnectors 29 made of material similar to that of the rods. The rollersare mounted in joumals II on the wall of the casingl and operatedthrough gears l8 and a handle It], or motor 20. The rate at which therollers are operated is made to conform with the rate of the burning ofthe welding rods, and to keep the arc in a predetermined position in thecasing, and may be inspected through peephole and protective glass 24.Under the points of arcing at which the light or rays are produced, islocated a dampening funnel 2| hung to swing toits normal horizontalposition during all tiltings of the casing I. The funnel is preferablymade of suitable fireproof material and is lined with wet or moistenedloose asbestos or the like adapted to catch the molten material from thearcs and cool same. A suitable tubing 22 is attached to the funnel andbrought out through a hole 23 in the casing. The funnel catches themolten material and guides it to the tubing 22 which in turn carries itaway from the lamp without injury to the latter. The use of wet asbestoshas been found to be most effective and avoids the explosions that wouldotherwise occur if the material fell directly into a pan of water As themetal is cooled, it solidifies and drops through the tubing in smallpieces.

The operation of the. lamp needs little explanation as it is simplyoperated by keeping the electrodes feeding properly, while it is beingused to direct its rays against the faces of the victims at which it ispointed. As the rays strike the eyes of the victims it paralyzes theirnerves and causes blindness which practically places them hors decombat. The continuous removal and disposal of, the molten materials ofcombustion prevents damage being done to the lamp by the use of thesefast burning substances and enables it to be used under a great varietyof ited by the scope of this application, appreciated that other formsand constructions could be used that would employ the same principlesand come within the scope of the appended claim.

by the falling melted particles from the arcing and partially wet sameto promote their solidilcation, a tube attached to the funnel forcarrymgtotf the said particles after striking the said ma WILLIAM F.SHEFFIELD.

